CLARKSDALE – While the expenses associated with becoming a nurse can be daunting, a partnership between Coahoma Community College (CCC) and Tallahatchie General Hospital & Extended Care Facility (TGH/ECF) is helping to eliminate that barrier.

CCC and TGH/ECF have teamed up to offer “Ladder of Success”—a unique program in which the hospital foots the tuition bill for residents in Tallahatchie County to complete their nursing degree at CCC in exchange for a commitment to work at the facility afterwards.

According to CCC Health Sciences Short-Term Program Coordinator Tony Brooks, five students currently enrolled in CCC’s Nursing Assistant program by way of “Ladder of Success” will be finishing up their certifications in April.

“This is an excellent program as it provides our students with the opportunity to climb the career ladder from CNA to RN at no cost to them,” said Brooks. “Through this program, the hospital will receive highly trained employees, the college will receive dedicated students and the students will gain a valuable career and a guaranteed job. …It’s a win for all parties involved.”

After completing the intensive 10-week Nursing Assistant program at CCC, the “Ladder of Success” participants will be eligible to receive their state certification to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

Once the certification is achieved, each of the CNAs will honor a one-year contract with TGH/ECF.

After providing services at TGH/ECF for at least two years, the participants will become eligible to receive their Practical Nursing degree through the program to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

After serving two years as full-time LPNs, they’ll become eligible to enroll in CCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

“The ladder of success program gives residents of Tallahatchie County the opportunity to further their careers in nursing and work hand-in-hand with serving the community through their service at TGH,” the hospital said in a written statement.

“We at TGH would also like to thank Coahoma Community College—Steve Jossell (CCC’s executive director of workforce development) and Tony Brooks—for their partnership with us. …We look forward to our partnership with them for years to come!”